Top 10 Packer Draft Busts of All Time

by GreenandGold4Life on Apr 17, 2011 1:32 AM CDT

Here's my list for the top 10 Biggest Packer Draft Busts since 1980. My criteria is that they have to be a 1st or 2nd round pick, didn't not have any type of impact with the Packers or even another team afterwards, and for the most part were injury free or have at least had 3 years to make a contribution despite injury struggles.

Runner Up: Derrick Mayes

10. Vinnie Clark

9. John Michaels

8. Fred Vinson

7. Brian Brohm

6. Ahmad Carroll

5. Justin Harrell

4. Jamal Reynolds

3. Brent Fullwood

2. Tony Mandarich

1. Rich Campbell

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Your headline says "of All Time"

while your article is only about since 1980.

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

"Here I am, brain the size of a planet,
and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper.
You call that job satisfaction?
'Cause, I don't."

THE BEARS STILL SUCK!

by NorthStarr on Apr 17, 2011 3:22 PM CDT reply actions

Good catch!

by PhoenicianPakFan on Apr 17, 2011 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions

If it was all time,

I might have suggested including 1959 1st rounder QB Randy Duncan (except, of course, we were already on the verge of
Bart Starr’s emergence).

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

"Here I am, brain the size of a planet,
and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper.
You call that job satisfaction?
'Cause, I don't."

THE BEARS STILL SUCK!

by NorthStarr on Apr 17, 2011 8:58 PM CDT up reply actions

The headline

made me think that G&G4Life was taking a different slant on draft busts than Brandon had just finished doing.

"It's a great day to be great, baby!"

"Here I am, brain the size of a planet,
and they ask me to pick up a piece of paper.
You call that job satisfaction?
'Cause, I don't."

THE BEARS STILL SUCK!

by NorthStarr on Apr 17, 2011 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions

How does Mandarich not win?

He’s one of the biggest busts of all time, if not the biggest…

"I'm tired of pretending I'm not a rock star from Mars."

by Kuhl on Apr 17, 2011 10:49 PM CDT reply actions

Yep

The only question is whether Mandarich is the biggest bust in the history of the NFL draft. To say he’s not the Packers’ biggest bust is ridiculous.

by Curly Lambeau on Apr 18, 2011 12:39 AM CDT up reply actions

4 career games, no starts

At least Mandarich started 31 games.

Career stats:
31/68: 386, 3 TDs, 9 INTs, 38.8 rating

Drafted 6th overall, I don’t think it’s that much of a runaway. I do think “The Incredible Bulk” is a bigger bust, though.

13.

by Wiedmann on Apr 18, 2011 12:59 AM CDT up reply actions

I think Mandarich is just so much more publicized and he had much higher expectation which probably leads to why people rank him so high. I mean do you remember the SI cover “The Incredible Bulk”? I can STILL picture it.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Apr 18, 2011 9:17 AM CDT up reply actions

Exactly

And I would say that expectations are part of what makes a bust.

by Curly Lambeau on Apr 18, 2011 10:49 AM CDT up reply actions

Brent Fullwood at #3?

…ahead of Jamal Reynolds? …not to mention Brian Brohm and Ahmad Carroll…

by Curly Lambeau on Apr 18, 2011 10:52 AM CDT reply actions

Bust cornerbacks

I didn’t include Vinson because Wolf was able to dump him off on Seattle for Ahman Green. Vinson was an injury prone mess, but that pick worked out great in the end for netting the team’s all time leading rusher.

And I didn’t have room on the Top 10 for Vinnie Clark. He would have made an honorable mention list.

by Brandon on Apr 19, 2011 7:02 PM CDT reply actions

My Bad

My fault on the Headline. I was toying with all-time and since 1980 and didn’t make the change before posting. However, I’m going to stand by my pick of Rich Campbell over Mandarich. I think Manderich gets the most flack because of the pub that surrounded him as Trevor R mentions (Cover of SI), and also the steroid fiasco. But he did semi resurrect his career and started for a few years in Indy later on.

Campbell was just plain awful. Campbell appeared in seven career games and finished with abysmal numbers: three touchdown passes, nine interceptions, a 45.6 completion percentage and 38.8 passer rating.

The worst part was the Packers could have selected future Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott, who was taken two picks later by the San Francisco 49ers. Yeah the Packers could have had Barry Sanders in 1989, but you can hardly fault them for picking Mandarich. All other teams with the number 2 pick would have too. He and Aikman were the sure fire top 2 picks on everyone’s board. Plus tackle was a need.

The decision to draft Campbell was even more baffling because the Packers didn’t need a quarterback. Lynn Dickey was in the prime of his career and produced five solid seasons after Campbell was drafted. What the Packers sorely needed was help on defense and Lott would have helped..

Starr later admitted he was concerned with a flaw in Campbell’s throwing motion before the draft, and there were some strong voices in the Packers’ draft room lobbying for Lott. In the end, Starr made the wrong choice, and it eventually cost him his job as head coach.

Campbell as the biggest bust over Mandarich was just as much the Packers fault as it was his own. I can’t blame the Packers on the Mandarich pick whatsoever.

….Next up…..Top 10 Packer Draft Picks of All-Time…..yes I promoise All TIme this time.

by GreenandGold4Life on Apr 20, 2011 8:30 PM CDT reply actions